Canada-headed GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL), the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, and US-based OPAL Fuels Inc., a vertically integrated producer, and distributor of renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable energy, have announced the completion of the construction of their new RNG production facility, Emerald RNG.
This is the first of two previously announced RNG projects to be developed via a joint venture (JV) between the companies at landfills owned by affiliates of GFL.
The second project, located in North Carolina, is expected to commence commercial operations next year. GFL and OPAL Fuels are also pursuing renewable energy projects at seven other landfill sites that are in various stages of development.
The completion of construction of the largest of our landfill gas to RNG projects is an important step for GFL toward achieving our ambition for a low-carbon future. This RNG project advances our own sustainability goals by reducing GHG emissions from both our landfills and our fleet, as well as the goals of our customers, by avoiding emissions through the beneficial reuse of RNG to displace virgin fuel applications, said Patrick Dovigi, Founder and CEO of GFL.
RNG for transportation
The Emerald RNG facility will capture naturally occurring biogas from the decomposition of organic material at the landfill, and upgrade and refine it into RNG.
The facility has a nameplate capacity of 10 000 SCFM of landfill gas (LFG) and is expected to produce more than 2.5 million MMBtu or almost 20 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of RNG annually.
Landfill gas to RNG facilities provides a proven solution to reduce emissions across the transportation network, resulting in lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the landfill and displacing diesel fuel with a low-carbon fuel alternative.
The RNG produced by the plant will help avoid GHG emissions equivalent to achieving zero Scope 1 emissions from more than 1 500 heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) each year and will be used, in part, to power a portion of GFL’s US CNG fleet.
This successful joint venture with GFL reflects our continued focus on growth – expanding RNG production to ultimately bring more renewable fuel supply online, while simultaneously providing GFL’s heavy-duty transportation fleets with a fuel source that’s cleaner than fossil fuels at no additional cost. RNG is a here-and-now solution to address the impacts of climate change and is a sought-after source of renewable energy, said Adam Comora, Co-CEO of OPAL Fuels.
